You ever wonder if your life has, well, meaning? Y’know; that your life counts for something. Or at least, to someone? Anyone?

Hey, we’ve all had days when we wondered if we were making an impact on the world. It’s the perennial “George Bailey” problem, isn’t it? (You remember him, right? The guy from It’s a Wonderful Life).

And just like ol’ George, if you’d just stop to think about it, you might be surprised at the part you have to play in that great ongoing symphony we call life.

A Christmas Concert

Speaking of symphonies, I remember a Christmas concert given years ago by the Houston Symphony. It was a wonderful performance, I’ll tell ya. The repertoire was perfect, of course: filled with both familiar seasonal favorites, plus a few classical standards.

I love watching an orchestra perform. All the different musicians, playing like mad while following the conductor’s lead with incredible harmony and precision. It’s inspiring, to say the least.

I especially enjoy focusing on the many different instruments. The ways they’re played, the delicate nuances each one is capable of; hey, it’s all good, y’know?

One of the most important, yet somewhat rather unsung orchestra positions, though, is that of “utility”. In case you didn’t know, that’s the member in the percussion section who plays all those distinctive-sounding, though rarely called-for instruments; you know, stuff like castanets, jingle bells, or cannons (pretty much obligatory for performances of the 1812 Overture - or Cannonball Run).

But during this particular evening’s performance, I found myself watching that guy almost exclusively. I mean, this young fella had a fascinating job! For one song, he played a tiny little finger cymbal for only about three or four measures. In a different number, he pulled out a washboard and scraped merrily away, adding just that perfect touch of ‘homeyness’ to the music.

Finally, the orchestra got around to playing one of my Christmas favorites, Sleigh Ride. It’s a light, happy, toe-tappin’ tune, and it never fails; audiences everywhere usually kinda “get into it”, if you know what I mean. The thing is, in this piece there are several spots where the sound of a whip crack is needed (it’s about horses pulling sleighs in the snow, you know).

Dangerous Profession?

Now, I don’t know about you, but if I were in an orchestra, the idea of someone behind me actually, y’know, trying to crack a real whip during a concert performance would understandably make me a mite nervous. Yep; I can see the headline now: “Orchestra Mayhem – Young Whippersnapper Takes Out Frustrations on Fellow Orchestra Members! Film at 11.”

Here’s the secret, though. See, instead of an actual whip, that distinctive crack is created with a pair of polished wooden boards, hinged together at one end. When the time comes to crack the whip, the utility guy simply whacks the two boards together (hopefully without catching a finger!), producing a surprisingly authentic sound.

The funny thing was, by this time in the concert, most of the audience had noted the antics of the utility man as well. And so, when he snapped those two boards together, they actually started applauding! You could tell it kinda took him by surprise. Nevertheless, he acknowledged the audience with a small bow and kept right on.

Naturally, the more he did it, the more the audience responded, and by the time the piece was finished, the Conductor even had him take a special bow to recognize the audience’s appreciation.

Don’t Just Sit There; Play Something!

Now, I don’t think there’s any need for me to build up this big, elaborate metaphor of how “Life is a Symphony”, do I? I’m sure we’ve all heard that one once or twice, somewhere down the line. But still; I can’t help but think about that utility guy… and how life occasionally imitates art.

See, there was this one piece…

The music played for quite some time before the guy even stirred. Finally, he stood up. Spent a few seconds shifting his music on the stand. Turned and picked up a short stick with what looked like a wooden ball on the end. Waited some more.

Then he shifted his feet a bit to get the proper stance. Raised his arm over some strange-looking device on a table next to him. Waited a bit more. Then… then… and then… right on cue, he hit it with the gentlest of taps, producing a softly melodic tock!

He then sat back down; his work completed.

It was… perfect!

We All Have a Part to Play

You ever feel like your life doesn’t really amount to anything? That you have some part to play, but you’re not quite sure what it is? Are you occasionally plagued by self doubts? Hey, we all face those feelings every now and then. The good news is, it’s really kinda, well, normal.

Here’s something you can do next time you feel like that Bozo in the mirror is sneerin’ at you behind your back. Just think of that orchestra’s utility guy. He spent nearly that entire piece just sitting on the sidelines, waiting. Everyone else is playing like crazy, but not him; he might as well have been a bump on a log as far as the rest of the orchestra was concerned.

But when it came time for him to make his contribution… well, I’m tellin’ ya; it was just the right contribution – at just the right time!

You’ve heard it before, and I’m sure you’ll hear it again. But what the heck; I’ll say it anyway: In life, it’s up to us to prepare, and to pay attention; after all, we do need to be ready when it’s our turn to play, right?

Just remember, it ain’t the quantity of notes you play in life, it’s the quality!

Hey, I’m just sayin’.

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